Just signed up for Foley-Belsaw locksmithing school...

[CitySpider]

I just started F-B and PCDI locksmith courses also I got an offer to work for a local locksmith (the only one in town) to work for him on weekends useing his truck for car lockouts he said he would teach me everything and i would get my locksmith License thru him but ............. i would have to sign a contract that i would not open my own business within 50 miles for 5 years im still thinking about it. any advice?

Well, were you planning on opening a shop in the next five years, within fifty miles? And if so, can you do it without his help?

If the answer to either question is no, go for it.

[Varjeal]

5 years can be an awful long wait if you finish your course and then decide it's something you'd really like to do, or you get in the middle of the course and decide the same. However, if you're not at all interested in starting your own business and just enjoy the hobby aspect, I too would say go for it.

Contracts such as those are not rare in the industry. Of course, there's nothing stopping you from starting a business 51 miles away, but it's always good to stay on good terms with local locksmiths in case you need some help or advice.

[lockpickroy]

Im still debating because 1 Bakersfeild ,the town im from is only 39 miles from where i live now 2 I can have everything done i need to do to start myself without his help in 2 years it would just be a lot less hassel to get my License thru him . just one last question if i get my locksmith License thru him would the license still be valid when i stoped working for him and wanted to work for myself ?

[Varjeal]

Nope. You'll have to apply for your own at that point.

[lockpickroy]

Varjeal thanx !! thats what i thought but wanted to make sure . it will just be more of a hassel and take longer to get my locksmith license on my own,but i will have to anyway later. one more question if you dont mind. if i go thru the trouble of geting a fictitious business name,and business license to get my locksmith license (working for myself) will i be able to work for other locksmiths with it ??

[Greg]

Not such a great deal for me in South Africa
The exchange rate makes the cost pretty nasty even though it seems good there

Perhaps theres a correspondence course in this country...

[lockpickroy]

just got my 2nd set of lessons today :0)

[Eyes_Only]

Do you mean SkillPak 2? What material does it cover?

[Varjeal]

A ficticious license and business name??? You might get away with it for awhile, but if you get caught you'll be in serious trouble (liability, litigation, etc.)

Most locksmiths tend to do their own work, but busy ones MAY be willing to send their extra work your way. However, they will most likely want to see proof of insurance, etc. Also, places that "specialize" may be looking for someone to send those "other" calls to and not hamper their own business. You would have to negotiate terms, etc. with them.

[lockpickroy]

Eyes only Do you mean SkillPak 2? What material does it cover?
Lesson # 6 warded lock construction # 7 making keys by impression for warded locks
# 8 warded bit key lock construction # 9 resettable padlock construction # 10 lever tumbler lock construction, picking and key impressioning

Varjeal A fictitious license and business name??? You might get away with it for awhile, but if you get caught you'll be in serious trouble (liability, litigation, etc.)

Please explain do you mean if im not bonded or insured? I want to do what’s right according to the law. in California to get my locksmith license I have to be employed by a locksmith business OR a fictitious business name = a made up NAME for my locksmith business, like Roy’s mobile B+E locksmith service then a business license then send off for my locksmith license with 2 passport ready photos and 2 sets of fingerprint scans 1 set to go to the department of Justice the other to the F.B.I I would be a locksmith employed by my locksmith company

[Grudge]

A ficticious license and business name??? You might get away with it for awhile, but if you get caught you'll be in serious trouble (liability, litigation, etc.)

Don't worry I think he just means a "Ficticious Business Name" or "Doing Business As" (DBA) name which you are REQUIRED to register in the U.S. if you want to call your business anything else besides your own name (like ABC Locksmithing or somesuch). I am sure they probably have the same thing in Canada, they just use different terminology (I think every goverment has a large, overstaffed divsion dedicated to coming up with confusing names and strange acronyms.

[lockpickroy]

Grudge thank you for you help in clearing up this missunderstanding also varjeal im sorry I did not intend to give the wrong impression

[Varjeal]

Hahaha...no problem..my bad...guess I'm getting paranoid in my...well.nevermind. I apologize for making that assumption.

Anyways, you'll probably be required (at the very least when working for someone else) to be bonded as well as having some type of liability insurance.

Even if you work on your own, make sure you're adequately covered. You never know when someone may try to take you to court for scratching their window tint, or supposedly doing a "poor" install job that scratches their expensive door or some nonsense like that.

Protect yourself. Also, do some shopping around for insurance and make sure the agent understands the situation and what you want to be covered for, and ask if they currently have locksmiths for clients, otherwise, you may not be covered for what you need to.

Best of luck.

P.S. Here in Canada we call that a "sole proprietorship". But yeah, same thing.

[Minus]

I just signed up for the foley-belsaw course myself, im pretty excited. I cant wait to get my first set of lessons, i will be sure to post about my experiences with it.

[ToddM]

I am also thinking of starting this course...Does anyone know how far along you have to be before you actually have the ability to unlock cars?